Matravers School

A 13-acre campus in the heart of Westbury has undergone a transformation worth over £11 million, making Matravers one of Wiltshire's most comprehensively equipped state secondaries. The school traces its roots to 1814, when John Matravers left £500 to found a charity school for local children. Two centuries later, the ethos of community service remains, but the facilities would be unrecognisable to the school's founder: a cutting-edge STEM Centre opened in 2019, followed by upgraded English and Humanities blocks, specialist Dance and Music studios, and a purpose-built fitness suite.

Dr Simon Riding has led the school since 2013, arriving from a senior deputy headship at Bitterne Park School in Southampton. Under his leadership, Ofsted moved the school from Requires Improvement to Good in 2022. The latest inspection confirmed quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision as all Good.

The campus blends historic buildings from the 1930s with contemporary facilities. The message at reception sets expectations: a traditional ethos, a modern outlook, the highest aspirations. Students in Years 7 to 11 follow a structured day, while sixth formers enjoy their own purpose-built centre, opened in 2012 and managed largely by students themselves.

The Matravers Mindset defines the school's approach to character development. Beyond academic achievement, staff emphasise confidence, resilience, teamwork, and leadership. These qualities are tested through the Combined Cadet Force, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and the school's outdoor education programme.

Behaviour is calm and purposeful. The 2022 Ofsted inspection noted that pupils are particularly enthusiastic about extracurricular opportunities, with many proud to be part of the Combined Cadet Force. Staff know students well, and the student-teacher ratio of 14:1 allows for individual attention.

The school draws primarily from seven feeder primaries: Bitham Brook, Bratton, Chapmanslade CE, Dilton Marsh CE Junior, North Bradley CE, Westbury CE Junior, and Westbury Leigh CE. This creates a genuinely local intake, with families often knowing each other through primary connections.

GCSE Results

At GCSE, Matravers achieves solid performance in line with the middle 35% of schools in England. The Attainment 8 score of 45 sits marginally below the England average of 45.9. However, the Progress 8 score of +0.15 indicates students make above-average progress from their starting points.

The school ranks 2,534th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it within the central band of secondary schools. Locally, however, Matravers ranks 1st in Westbury, making it the top-performing secondary in its immediate area.

The EBacc entry rate of 6.6% achieving grades 5 or above is below the England average, reflecting the school's broad curriculum offer rather than a narrow focus on traditional academic subjects. The school provides a range of vocational pathways alongside academic routes.

A-Level Results

At A-level, performance places Matravers comfortably within the typical range, ranking 1,040th in England (FindMySchool ranking) and 1st in Westbury. The school sits within the middle 35% of sixth forms in England (25th to 60th percentile).

Nearly half of all A-level grades (49.5%) fall within A* to B, slightly above the England average of 47.2%. At the top end, 9.1% of grades achieved A* and 24.2% achieved A*/A, compared to the England average of 23.6% at A*/A. The 2024 results were described by the school as record-breaking.

Top performers in 2024 included Kieran Wilkinson, who secured AAAA plus an A in his Extended Project and progressed to study medicine at the University of Bristol. Tabi Coleman achieved AA*A and secured a place at Manchester University for Fashion Marketing. Ruby Yates earned AAB and progressed to Warwick University for History and Politics.

The curriculum follows a traditional academic framework with modern additions. Science is taught in specialist laboratories within the new STEM Centre, allowing practical work from Year 7 onwards. Technology, Art, Ceramics, and Photography each have dedicated specialist accommodation.

The Music and Drama building houses performance spaces, practice rooms, and dance studios. This separation allows noise-intensive subjects to operate without disrupting academic blocks.

Class sizes benefit from the 14:1 student-teacher ratio. Setting arrangements allow differentiation, while catch-up initiatives and pupil premium support target those who need additional help. The school describes its approach as catering for students of widely differing abilities and aptitudes.

At GCSE, students access a mix of academic and vocational qualifications. At A-level, approximately thirty subjects are offered, including BTEC Diplomas in ICT and Travel and Tourism at various levels. The school promotes a mixed pathway combining A-levels and BTECs, enabling students to access competitive university destinations while maintaining breadth.

In 2024, 35% of sixth form leavers progressed to university, with 9% starting apprenticeships and 35% entering employment directly. The further education route attracted 4%. These figures reflect the school's comprehensive intake and commitment to diverse pathways.

University destinations in 2024 included the University of Bristol (medicine), University of Exeter (law), Warwick University (history and politics), Cardiff University, University of East Anglia, Manchester University, Bristol UWE, and Sussex. Emmy Jones won a Royal Navy scholarship, one of only ten awarded nationally.

The mixed pathway approach has proven effective. Joseph Morgan combined a Distinction* with grades BC and progressed to Sussex to study Robotic Engineering. Tayla Plummer earned two Distinctions and a Merit, securing a place at Bristol UWE for paramedic training.

UCAS guidance is embedded within the sixth form programme, with dedicated support helping students through the application process. The school has a history of students progressing to higher education and good careers.

Matravers operates as a foundation school administered by Wiltshire Council. Applications for Year 7 are made through the local authority, with forms available from October and the deadline falling in late October for September entry.

The school is oversubscribed, with 211 applications for 178 offers in the most recent admissions round. This represents a subscription ratio of 1.19 applications per place. First preference applicants who listed Matravers first were matched exactly with first preference offers, suggesting strong alignment between family choices and offers made.

Admissions criteria follow the standard hierarchy: looked-after children, children with EHCPs naming the school, siblings, then catchment and distance. Most pupils arrive from the seven feeder primary schools, though the school also recruits from a wider range of primaries within and beyond Wiltshire.

Year 7 transition begins as soon as places are confirmed. The transition team visits every child in their primary school, meeting teachers and gathering information used to form tutor groups. All new pupils attend induction days in June, followed by an Induction Evening for parents.

Sixth form applications are open to both internal and external candidates. Mr Browning, Director of Sixth Form, handles enquiries from prospective external students.

The pastoral structure centres on year group teams, with each year having a dedicated Head of Year. Form tutors provide daily contact and first-line support. The SENCO coordinates provision for students with special educational needs.

Sixth form pastoral support operates through a dedicated team, recognising the different needs of post-16 students managing independent study and university applications. The handbook and transition programme help students adjust to sixth form expectations.

The school's values, embedded through the Matravers Mindset, emphasise personal development alongside academic achievement. Character qualities including confidence, resilience, teamwork, and leadership are actively developed through the curriculum and extracurricular programme.

Safeguarding arrangements are led by Mr Tom Phillips, Deputy Headteacher and Designated Safeguarding Lead. The 2022 Ofsted inspection rated leadership and management as Good.

Combined Cadet Force

The Combined Cadet Force stands as one of the school's signature programmes. Established as a standalone unit in May 2017, the Army Section is affiliated with 1 Regiment Army Air Corps at RNAS Yeovilton. The CCF Contingent Headquarters provides a multifunctional space with offices, classroom, and storage.

Training facilities on the school grounds include a climbing wall with five lines of graded challenges, enabling cadets to work towards NICAS certification. A self-designed fitness and obstacle course complements the climbing provision.

The Corps of Drums, launched in 2019, meets weekly to rehearse and perform at school and community events. This provides a distinctive opportunity combining military tradition with musical performance.

Achievements demonstrate the programme's quality. The 88% Duke of Edinburgh's Award completion rate among eligible cadets exceeds typical participation levels. Notable individual successes include Cadet Under Officer Bradbeer receiving the British Citizen Youth Award, Regimental Sergeant Major Gainey winning a highly prized Army scholarship, and Regimental Sergeant Major Slarke serving as Lord-Lieutenant's Cadet for Wiltshire.

Expeditions have included Exercise Tiger Venturer Matravers, a snowshoe expedition in the Mercantour National Park in France.

Sport and Physical Education

The sports programme operates from a large gymnasium, a newer Sports Centre, and a purpose-built fitness suite. The Sports Centre serves both the school community and the wider Westbury area through evening hire.

The 13-acre campus provides extensive outdoor space for field sports. Physical education forms part of the core curriculum, with additional clubs and competitive opportunities available.

Creative Arts

The separate Music and Drama building houses specialist facilities including dance studios and music performance and practice rooms. Footlights, the school's drama programme, provides performance opportunities. Matravers Radio offers students experience in broadcast media.

Music lessons are available for those wishing to learn instruments, with ensembles providing opportunities to perform. The Arts programme complements the academic curriculum.

Outdoor Education

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award runs across Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels. The CCF connection provides strong support for completion, with activities from parade evenings counting towards the Award.

Trips and visits extend learning beyond the classroom. The school's outdoor and adventurous education programme builds on the CCF foundations for those not involved in cadet activities.

The school is located at Springfield Road, Westbury, Wiltshire BA13 3QH. Westbury railway station provides connections to Bath, Bristol, and the wider rail network.

The school calendar includes induction days for Year 7 in June, with an Induction Evening for parents to receive essential information before September. Sixth form applications open annually, with Mr Browning available for enquiries from external students.

Contact details are available through the school website. The reception team can arrange personalised tours for families considering the school.

Comprehensive intake means mixed pathways. Unlike grammar schools or highly selective academies, Matravers serves its local community comprehensively. The 35% university progression rate reflects this reality, though apprenticeships and direct employment represent equally valid outcomes.

Oversubscribed but accessible. With 1.19 applications per place, competition exists but remains manageable. Families within the catchment area and feeder primary network have strong prospects of securing places.

Vocational strength alongside academics. The school's BTEC provision and mixed pathway approach suit students who benefit from applied learning. Those seeking a purely traditional academic environment may find the breadth less focused.

Sixth form is growing but compact. With a cohort size of 55, the sixth form offers intimacy but may have smaller class sizes in less popular subjects. The approximately thirty courses provide reasonable breadth.

Matravers has emerged from a period of improvement to establish itself as a solid, well-resourced comprehensive serving Westbury and its surrounding villages. The £11 million investment in facilities has created specialist spaces that rival many independent schools. The STEM Centre, Music and Drama building, and Sports Centre provide infrastructure for genuinely broad development.

Dr Simon Riding's leadership since 2013 has delivered the Ofsted improvement the school needed. The Good rating across all categories provides reassurance for families making important choices. Results sit within typical ranges for England, but the positive Progress 8 score indicates students make better than expected gains from their starting points.

Best suited to families seeking a genuinely comprehensive secondary where academic achievement sits alongside vocational pathways, outdoor education, and character development through programmes like the Combined Cadet Force. The school's roots in John Matravers's 1814 bequest remain visible in its commitment to serving local children of all abilities and backgrounds.